The Affirmative Action and Household Income Status of the Batwa Community Evicted From Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Kanungu District, Uganda

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Date

2022

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kabale University

Abstract

This study was conducted on the Affirmative Actionand Household Income Status of the Batwa Evicted from Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Kanungu District, Uganda. The main objective of the study was to analyse the phenomena and challenges of the Batwa Affirmative Actionand Household Income in relation to the Batwa communities evicted from BINP. Four specific objectives were: To assess the services/projects provided by the Batwa Affirmative Action and Household Income in Bwindi; To investigate whether Batwa Affirmative Action and Household Income raised household income among the Batwa; To examine the challenges encountered by the Batwa Affirmative Action towards Household Income; To determine response perceived solutions to the challenges encountered by the Batwa Affirmative Action towards Household Income.A case study research design was employed for this study with mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches. With the aid of questionnaires, interview guides and focus group discussions, data was collected from 147 respondents that included the Batwa beneficiaries, religious workers, UWA staff, BMCT, BDP,UOBDU staff, Hospital/health centres and schools within Kanungu District. The first study objective revealed that Savings and credit schemes/Village Banks /VSLA was the main service provided to the Batwa as presented by 71% of the respondents. Other services included land ownership and food production, water and sanitation, tourism, and health among other.The second study objective revealed that the Batwa Affirmative Action and Household Income had raised household income among the Batwa as evidenced by 15.2% Batwa that had radios. Other assets included goats, cell phones, cows, and sheep among others. The third study objective revealed that most of the Batwa were not sensitizedso much that they were not aware of what is expected of them, or what is expected from non-Batwa. Finally, the fourth study objective revealed that the Batwa should be educated to initiate appropriate IGAs like goat keeping, apiary, irish potatoes, bananas, vegetables, coffee and tea. The study recommends that the Batwa should be involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects that concern them so that they areproperly consulted. This would minimize or remove Batwa suspicion that project managers misuse funds meant for developing the Batwa. Instead of assimilation policies, the Batwa should be integrated into the surrounding communities without losing identity. The Batwa need to be fully sensitized that there is no more chance for nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle as the lifestyle is unsustainable.

Description

A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of a Master of Arts Degree in Project Planning and Management of Kabale University

Keywords

Affirmative Action, Household Income ,Batwa Community , Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, National Park

Citation